Policy Voices | #Democracy Special: Representative vs. participatory democracy

As part of the work to design a renewed social contract for Europe, Debating Europe is embarking on a crucial exploration of the challenges facing liberal democracies in the 21st century. In an era dominated by global issues such as climate change and the rise of artificial intelligence, the traditional decision-making tools inherited from the past two centuries are proving to be inadequate. All of this is leading to a profound lack of trust in policymakers and institutions and fostering a sense of alienation among citizens from the democratic process. This is why Debating Europe is on a mission to reimagine a democracy fit for the 21st century. One that fosters trust and empowers citizens to actively participate in shaping the strategic and policy decisions that will shape not only their lives but also the future for generations to come. In this final episode, we asked two experts if they would rather complement or replace representative democracy with participatory and deliberative democracy.